Do we have to go to church?

[Richie]

I then began really studying the Word of God on my own, spending time in prayer for direction, etc. and recently I have felt the conviction of my own self satisfying actions where my life as a child of God is concerned. I feel now that I am going to church for the wrong reasons.

Hisalone

Dear Brother,

Thank you for opening your heart to us. This is something I believe is a world wide problem. I notice that many people say that it is our duty to go to Church (very much fine indeed), but the actual purpose of going to church is missing.

We should go to Church:

1) In order to fulfill God's will along with the pastor and support God's work, especially for the poor and needy.

2) To have fellowship with our brothers and sisters. We need to comfort them, encourage them in their time of trouble and spend sometime with them so that we can have friendly and family like relationships and most importantly we need to share our spiritual experiences.

3) Going to Church should aid us in our spiritual growth and our everyday life.

It is not a duty to go to Church, but it is a necessity to go to Church. Many people don't realize this matter and they just say that going to Church is a duty.

If we don't go to Church, we are indirectly making Satan happy. Also we need to know, what kind of Church we are going to, because there are many Churches in the world which are led by Satan, there are Churches which are dead. This is because Satan some how wants to hinder God's work.

We should go to a Church which is glorifying God (in other words Holy Spirit filled and Holy Spirit Led Church). With out the Holy Spirit in Church atmosphere, no use of going to Church.

More over going to Church does not mean that we have to fulfill our duties as a Christian, but when we go to Church we should realize that we are entering the Holy presence of God Almighty and we stand as sinners before Him and we need His forgiveness as we worship and adore Him, in His presence.

Please see this link (you will understand what it really means to be a Christian):

I Am a Christian (click)

God bless you.

 

[jiggyfly]

Dear Brother,

Thank you for opening your heart to us. This is something I believe is a world wide problem. I notice that many people say that it is our duty to go to Church (very much fine indeed), but the actual purpose of going to church is missing.

We should go to Church:

1) In order to fulfill God's will along with the pastor and support God's work, especially for the poor and needy.

2) To have fellowship with our brothers and sisters. We need to comfort them, encourage them in their time of trouble and spend sometime with them so that we can have friendly and family like relationships and most importantly we need to share our spiritual experiences.

3) Going to Church should aid us in our spiritual growth and our everyday life.

It is not a duty to go to Church, but it is a necessity to go to Church. Many people don't realize this matter and they just say that going to Church is a duty.

If we don't go to Church, we are indirectly making Satan happy. Also we need to know, what kind of Church we are going to, because there are many Churches in the world which are led by Satan, there are Churches which are dead. This is because Satan some how wants to hinder God's work.

We should go to a Church which is glorifying God (in other words Holy Spirit filled and Holy Spirit Led Church). With out the Holy Spirit in Church atmosphere, no use of going to Church.

More over going to Church does not mean that we have to fulfill our duties as a Christian, but when we go to Church we should realize that we are entering the Holy presence of God Almighty and we stand as sinners before Him and we need His forgiveness as we worship and adore Him, in His presence.

Please see this link (you will understand what it really means to be a Christian):

I Am a Christian (click)

God bless you.

This is totally wrong, God does not dwell in any house or building made with human hands, there is absolutely nothing holy about a building , pews or a pulpit.

 

[Richie]

This is totally wrong, God does not dwell in any house or building made with human hands, there is absolutely nothing holy about a building , pews or a pulpit.

Dear Brother,

I really didn't mean to talk about the Church as a building, but I really meant to talk about the fellowship we need to have in the body of Christ. It is not the building which is the Church but it is we who are the Church.

God bless you.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

This is totally wrong, God does not dwell in any house or building made with human hands, there is absolutely nothing holy about a building , pews or a pulpit.

Jiggy: You and I have hashed through this subject before. It's not about God dwelling in a building, it's about powerful group worship and incredibly valuable personal, face-to-face contact with other believers.

SLE

 

[cuen]

i guess i can answer this question as a no. if chrsitans haveto go to church then what would be the cost of not going? punishment and having to be grounded in your room for a month. LOL or declare that certion spiritual understanding or gifts will be taken away? I honestly think not. I was asked one time what church i was going to and i said i was not part of a church. I have not been going to chruch in over 10 years. and the person then quickly asked me if i was a beleiver...as though my comment means that i had no understanding of Christ's Love for me by dying on the cross for my sins. I have had many people respond to me in this same way and even claim that i have been in sin by doing so. and yet not even ask me ..........WHY
but in truth it is not manditory to go to church and as even the bible implies that being a beleiver is being part of the church wich can be understood as "family" as well. but I do one day hope that i can find or able to go to church again soon........LORD WILLING

 

[jiggyfly]

Jiggy: You and I have hashed through this subject before. It's not about God dwelling in a building, it's about powerful group worship and incredibly valuable personal, face-to-face contact with other believers.

SLE

Exactly, and there are many ways for this to happen, it doesn't need to be connected with any kind of liturgy. To imply that God's house is a building with pews and a pulpit and that church is something we can go to rather than something we are a part of in Christ is wrong. If something is not true, what is it?
If it is not true can it be a part of God's kingdom?

The truth is, we are the temple of God no matter where we are or where we go, because He dwells in us. So why the need to imply that we need to go somewhere to "get in His presence"? Who or what is the beneficiary of such implications?

 

[Atonement]

Listen, anyone can throw a twist on why they don't attend Church.

Let's look at Acts, this is the early Church. Did they assemble in groups to hear the Word of God?

<TABLE class=table_bible style="FONT-SIZE: 125%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=td_bible_verse_heading vAlign=top noWrap align=left width=68><NOBR>Act 13:42</NOBR></TD><TD class=parSym vAlign=top></TD><TD class=td_bible_text vAlign=top>And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE class=table_bible style="FONT-SIZE: 125%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=td_bible_verse_heading vAlign=top noWrap align=left width=68><NOBR>Act 13:43</NOBR></TD><TD class=parSym vAlign=top></TD><TD class=td_bible_text vAlign=top>Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

<TABLE class=table_bible style="FONT-SIZE: 125%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=td_bible_verse_heading vAlign=top noWrap align=left width=68><NOBR>Act 13:44</NOBR></TD><TD class=parSym vAlign=top></TD><TD class=td_bible_text vAlign=top>And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Sure God does not live in a building, but that is NO EXCUSE not to attend Church to be fed spiritually..





</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>




</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[Chad]

I'm not going to skim through the 3 pages, but yes this has been bought up many times already. A building is nothing but a building. However, how is the building relevant to gathering together as a CHURCH??? It is not. If we gathered together as a church inside someone's home, is that home still not a building?

These ridiculous statements about calling GOD a building and accusing others of doing that when they are not is enough. I go to church. Its a BLESSING to me and everyone there. We gather together in brick and mortar. Is there a problem with that? No.

It is VERY IMPORTANT to go to church. I mentioned this before many times. The answers to why is very clear, and Atonement brought up book of Acts which is a great example. Guess what, they were inside a building! They gathered together.

Quit assuming the worst, or assuming what was not even brought up. No one is the know-it-all and end-all of knowledge. There are a lot of CHURCHES filled with great congregations on fire for the Lord Jesus. Don't dare put that down and don't assume every church is stained glasses and all "liturgy". The building itself is irrelevant.

 

[Atonement]

I'm not going to skim through the 3 pages, but yes this has been bought up many times already. A building is nothing but a building. However, how is the building relevant to gathering together as a CHURCH??? It is not. If we gathered together as a church inside someone's home, is that home still not a building?

These ridiculous statements about calling GOD a building and accusing others of doing that when they are not is enough. I go to church. Its a BLESSING to me and everyone there. We gather together in brick and mortar. Is there a problem with that? No.

It is VERY IMPORTANT to go to church. I mentioned this before many times. The answers to why is very clear, and Atonement brought up book of Acts which is a great example. Guess what, they were inside a building! They gathered together.

Quit assuming the worst, or assuming what was not even brought up. No one is the know-it-all and end-all of knowledge. There are a lot of CHURCHES filled with great congregations on fire for the Lord Jesus. Don't dare put that down and don't assume every church is stained glasses and all "liturgy". The building itself is irrelevant.

I'm in full agreement Chad, wheater we assemble in a building, in a home, at a park, at a lake, at a river, or even the mountains. The point is... We as believers need to assemble ourselves to hear the Word of God and be fed spiritually..

You know, I never understood why people want to argue about non-sense. .

Understand the Word of God

1Cr 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

You are the temple of God, there is no doubt, but show a verse that say's we should not gather unto the Lord??

 

[Richie]

Dear Brothers SpiritLedEd, Chad, Atonement,

I'm amazed by your replies. Yes indeed, we do need to go to Church, especially to:

1) Grow Spiritually.
2) Have fellowship with other believers (important).

Thank you so much for your replies.

Brother Atonement, I'm amazed by the way you referred about going to Church, in the bible.

i guess i can answer this question as a no. if chrsitans haveto go to church then what would be the cost of not going? punishment and having to be grounded in your room for a month. LOL or declare that certion spiritual understanding or gifts will be taken away?

Dear Sister Cuen,

If you don't mind, if you're not going to Church, your giving an opportunity for satan to rejoice, because if we don't go to Church, it shows that we don't have the intention to support God's work (and satan loves it). So, please go to Church, where you can gain sufficient spiritual food and support God's work. I hope I didn't offend you, I'm sorry if I did.

God bless you.

 

[Atonement]

Brother Atonement, I'm amazed by the way you referred about going to Church, in the bible.

I don't know how to take that?? What do you mean?

 

[ushalk]

the bottom line is. many have been led to believe that we all belong to a certain denomination or to a certain group of people or congregation. this is all to far from the truth. we belong to christ and christ alone.

his alone as i stated in an earlier post i believe that you are being led out of the congregations and denominations. i do not see where you do not want other brothers and sisters for fellowship. but i do see where in many of the churches theirs is the only true church or right church or they have the best activities and what not. in many places the truth is not spoken anymore and this a huge cause for what christianity has become in the world today.

i believe that if you are not attending a church yet you are keeping ground with other believers and in the word then you are not wrong.

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT ANY THAT STATE DIFFERENTLY DECEIVE THEMSELVES. THE WORD OF GOD STATES TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BROTHERS AND SISTERS. THAT IS THE CHURCH.

 

[Atonement]

the bottom line is. many have been led to believe that we all belong to a certain denomination or to a certain group of people or congregation. this is all to far from the truth. we belong to christ and christ alone.

his alone as i stated in an earlier post i believe that you are being led out of the congregations and denominations. i do not see where you do not want other brothers and sisters for fellowship. but i do see where in many of the churches theirs is the only true church or right church or they have the best activities and what not. in many places the truth is not spoken anymore and this a huge cause for what christianity has become in the world today.

i believe that if you are not attending a church yet you are keeping ground with other believers and in the word then you are not wrong.

I ALSO BELIEVE THAT ANY THAT STATE DIFFERENTLY DECEIVE THEMSELVES. THE WORD OF GOD STATES TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BROTHERS AND SISTERS. THAT IS THE CHURCH.

Through out the entire Word of God. God has appointed men to leadership roles. Someone to shepherd His flock. So how can one say that not going to fellowship in "Church" is not wrong? The Bible speaks much differently about this:

1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

We are told by Jesus to preach and teach, yes this is why we have Home fellowships, youth rallies, Church functions etc

Act 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

I will close with one more verse, but I believe there is a spirit of divison/confusion on this topic..

1Cr 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

I believe that if you are not in a local Bible based Church, you need to search your heart and ask yourself why? Is it because of a certain denominations? Then choose a non-denominational Church! Problem solved..
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[jiggyfly]

Through out the entire Word of God. God has appointed men to leadership roles. Someone to shepherd His flock. So how can one say that not going to fellowship in "Church" is not wrong? The Bible speaks much differently about this:

1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

We are told by Jesus to preach and teach, yes this is why we have Home fellowships, youth rallies, Church functions etc

Act 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

I will close with one more verse, but I believe there is a spirit of divison/confusion on this topic..

1Cr 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

I believe that if you are not in a local Bible based Church, you need to search your heart and ask yourself why? Is it because of a certain denominations? Then choose a non-denominational Church! Problem solved..
<TABLE class=table_bible style="FONT-SIZE: 125%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=td_bible_verse_heading vAlign=top noWrap align=left width=68><NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=parSym vAlign=top></TD><TD class=td_bible_text vAlign=top></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Atonement, you may want to do a greek word study on church and bishop.
As far as your reference to the believers gathering in the temple, you may want to read on a little further in the book of Acts. Have you ever considdered what Jesus said to the woman at the well?

John 4:21-24
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

[Atonement]

Atonement, you may want to do a greek word study on church and bishop.
As far as your reference to the believers gathering in the temple, you may want to read on a little further in the book of Acts. Have you ever considdered what Jesus said to the woman at the well?

John 4:21-24
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Jiggyfly, you ask me to study Greek? Are you serious? I do not know how mature you are in the Lord, or how long you have been studing the Word of God. But I'm going to ask you kindly not to question my knowledge on Greek or the Bible. I'm a youth pastor and have gone through fours years of Bible college. I know both Hebrew and Greek, so to answer your unvalid points about the Church and the Bishop, I feel I must do this so there is no confusion on your part..

The church at Philippi had bishops refer to (Phil 1:1). The word comes from the Greek episcopos, which means "bishop," or "overseer." A bishop or overseer had the administrative responsibilty of the local church and usually fulfilled that task as a pastor. Shepherds or pastors were also called bishops. That was easy and very plain and pimple.

Yes we must worship God in both Spirit and Truth. No where has this been denied or dismissed by myself. What is truth? Is not the truth the Word of God? Then please study the Word of God on this issue before you question my knowledge and act as if I'm wrong on this matter.. Thank you Jiggyfly

 

[Atonement]

I will say that I was a little harsh on my last responce. Sorry that it was heated. But you questioned me as if I'm wrong.

Please prove me wrong through Scripture and not through your knowledge alone..


Thank you
-Atone

 

[Richie]

I don't know how to take that?? What do you mean?

Dear Brother,

What I really meant to say is, that it is the first time I seen anyone talking about if we should go to Church or not from the bible. That's all. I was happy with your references.

God bless you.

 

[Coconut]

Mat 8:19 And a scribe came up and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

Mat 15:29 Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there, and great crowds came to him...

Mat 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

Mat 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

John 12:26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Joh 7:37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Luk 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed...

Jas 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Jud 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

2Co 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The only question I find worth asking is, am I with HIM?

"For the man who prays in his heart, the whole world is a cathedral."
~ Sylvain of Athos ~

 

[jiggyfly]

Jiggyfly, you ask me to study Greek? Are you serious? I do not know how mature you are in the Lord, or how long you have been studing the Word of God. But I'm going to ask you kindly not to question my knowledge on Greek or the Bible. I'm a youth pastor and have gone through fours years of Bible college. I know both Hebrew and Greek, so to answer your unvalid points about the Church and the Bishop, I feel I must do this so there is no confusion on your part..

The church at Philippi had bishops refer to (Phil 1:1). The word comes from the Greek episcopos, which means "bishop," or "overseer." A bishop or overseer had the administrative responsibilty of the local church and usually fulfilled that task as a pastor. Shepherds or pastors were also called bishops. That was easy and very plain and pimple.

Yes we must worship God in both Spirit and Truth. No where has this been denied or dismissed by myself. What is truth? Is not the truth the Word of God? Then please study the Word of God on this issue before you question my knowledge and act as if I'm wrong on this matter.. Thank you Jiggyfly

Please forgive my ignorance and my lack religious protocol, I have been outside the religious institutional system for several years. Seems I forgot that being a pastor puts one above question, oh and just FYI I wasn't acting LOL.

 

[ushalk]

ok atonement, you have been through bible college. what is the only given reason in the bible for what water baptism is?

the church is our hearts and those that have accepted christ.